www.brunel.ac.uk/international

DESTINATIONBrunelWhere your journey starts...

Welcome to BrunelYou have chosen an amazing place to study and live!

Based on a modern campus in West London, at Brunel we are globallyrenowned for the quality of our teaching and research across many subjectareas, from Engineering to Sports Science, Anthropology to Business.

14,000 students and staff from over 110 countries are based here, so you willbe part of a thriving international community that is well-known for beingfriendly and helpful.

Brunel International is the office dedicated to assisting international studentsthrough every stage, from their first enquiry about the University to the daythey graduate and beyond. Our international team is based in the RussellBuilding, a modern office block on the University Campus.

The team has responsibility for international marketing, recruitment,admissions, welfare, English Language and Modern Foreign Languageprovision. Together we speak over 20 languages, including Mandarin, Malay,Turkish, Arabic, Polish, Japanese and Swahili.

This booklet will guide you through the next steps from planning your trip togetting settled at the University.

Look out especially for comments from our Brunel International Scholarshipwinners throughout this guide. They have plenty of insights to share.

www.brunel.ac.uk is the place to go for further information about theUniversity or you can contact our international team any time. We hope to bewelcoming you here soon.

Karen BlackneyHead of Marketing and Recruitment Brunel International

2

3

Every year the Brunel International ScholarshipPanel awards scholarships to help selectedinternational students cover their study feesand living expenses when studying at Brunel.In the academic year 2010/11, we had over20 students from different countries anddisciplines who were awarded a scholarshipfrom Brunel International. The students werefrom countries, such as India, Nigeria, Korea,Canada, Egypt and Malaysia. We thought youwould like to hear what they have to sayabout the University, so throughout this guideyou will find their stories.

Some of our Scholarship Winnershave been keeping a blog about theirexperience at Brunel and the UK, findout more here:www.brunel.ac.uk/international/current-students/meet-the-bloggers2

Introducing our International Scholars

Brunel International is hosting a 3-dayOrientation programme for all internationaland EU students prior to the start of theacademic year. The event is free forinternational fee paying students and £95 forEU and exchange students. The programme isdesigned to help you familiarize yourself withthe campus and Uxbridge before starting yourcourse. This is a great opportunity to make alot of friends and enrol onto your coursebefore all other students arrive. You will getinformation sessions on banking, immigrationand free services offered on campus and theUnion of Brunel Students.

Activities during those three days will include aday trip, a campus and Uxbridge walking tourand lots of social events. All meals are includedin the event.

If you have been allocated a room on campusplease let our accommodation team know youwill be arriving early, by going towww.brunel.ac.uk/life/accommodation/earlyarrivalThere will be a small extra charge for youradditional nights’ stay.

To book your space on the orientationprogramme please click here: www.brunel.ac.uk/international/applying-to-brunel/unconditional-offer/orientation

4

Hello my name isAmira Abd El-Khalekfrom Egypt.

I’m studying an MSc inMedical Anthropology. Iwould advise you toattend the InternationalStudent OrientationProgram and Fresher’sWeek. The people youmeet there are your firstcontacts to the university and throughoutyour year of studies, it is these familiar facesthat you will continue to bump into andbefriend. Make the best use of the time youhave at Brunel. It is an experience you willnot forget! In

tern

ati

onal

Sch

ola

r

International StudentOrientation Programme

5

Securing your Offer

Admissions: Next Steps

Please keep in touch. We will be sending youimportant information and possibly queriesright up to the time of travel to the UK, soplease tell us if your contact details change –and check your emails regularly.

Step 1 – Decide if you would like toaccept the conditional offer.It is important that you let us know if you wouldlike to accept your conditional offer, as yourplace on the course may be offered to someoneelse if we do not hear anything from you.

Undergraduate students who have appliedthrough UCAS: You must accept yourconditional offer online through UCAS’s Trackservice. You will only be able to accept oneoffer firmly and one offer as an insurancechoice, so choose carefully.

All other students can confirm acceptanceof the place to us by indicating through“My Applications” – further information canbe located atwww.brunel.ac.uk/international/applying-to-brunel/applied-and-waiting/my-application.

Alternatively, please do not hesitate to signand return the reply slip attached to theoriginal offer letter either via email attachmentto international.admissions@brunel.ac.ukor by post.

Step 2 – Meet all the conditions ofyour offer (and tell us)

Undergraduate students who have appliedthrough UCAS: The conditions your offer isbased on can be viewed on UCAS Track (wedo not issue offer letters unless requested).

All other students will receive a conditionaloffer letter which will list the conditionsrequired. As you meet the conditions of youroffer remember to let us know by email, postor in person.

If you have problems meeting the conditionsof your offer please do not hesitate to contactour International Admissions Team to discussalternatives.

Step 3 – Unconditional offer

Once you have met all the conditions of youroffer, your offer becomes unconditional.

Brunel does not issue unconditional offerletters. Instead, you will receive aConfirmation of Acceptance of Studies(CAS) statement via email which isrequired for visa purposes. The information

6

in the CAS email is all you need for the visaapplication - you do not require a CAS letter.Please notify Brunel International Admissionsteam if you do not need a CAS and you willbe issued with an updated offer emailinstead.

Email:International.Admissions@brunel.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1895 265519

For international students who are resident inthe UK and would like to apply to Brunel buthave not yet taken an English Language testwe also provide our own English LanguageTest. For dates of the Brunel English LanguageTest (BrunELT) please go to:www.brunel.ac.uk/international/iplc/brunel-english-language-test-brunelt

English CoursesIf you have not yet met the English Languagerequirement, the International Pathways andLanguage Centre (IPLC) offers you theopportunity to study English for AcademicPurposes and General English. All of ourcourses have been designed to provide youwith intensive English support to develop youracademic writing, listening, note-taking andpresentation skills. These will equip you withthe necessary study tools for your academicstudies. For full details of our English coursesand prices, please go towww.brunel.ac.uk/international/englishcourses

Pre-sessional CoursesOur Pre-sessional English courses run from 4to 20 weeks prior to the start of yourundergraduate or postgraduate course. Youwill be offered a course based on your Englishlanguage level. Our 4-week course is for thosestudents who have already met their English

Language Requirement, but would like to bebetter prepared for their degree course bystudying academic English.

Year-Round CoursesIf you would like to attend a longer Englishprogramme, IPLC also runs a year-roundEnglish course, English@Brunel. Thisprogramme has been designed to improveyour general and academic English to prepareyou for life and academic study in the UK. Youwill have the opportunity to practise Englishused in everyday situations, to develop yourknowledge and understanding of grammarand vocabulary and improve your academicstudy skills for your UK university study.Courses are available each August, October,January and February.

Hello, my name is LeelaBala from Singapore.I am studying for an MScin Neurorehabilitation. Iwas first drawn to Brunelbecause of reviews andrecommendationsregarding the course I wasinterested in. The locationwas also brilliant as it wasclose enough to centralLondon and the airport.

My course is definitely challenging and doesencourage you to push yourself academically.The academics are very helpful and extremelywell-versed in their specialities. Support andassistance can be easily accessed as you need itand see fit. The library, sports, accommodationand other university facilities have also lived upto high standards.

My advice would be to take part in whateveractivities you can and enjoy meeting newpeople and all the experiences that come alongwith it. I have made many new friendships herewhich are so diverse and ones that I will takeaway with me for the rest of my life.

Inte

rnati

onal

Sch

ola

r

7

Do I need a visa?

If you are coming to the UK to study for acourse lasting 6 months or more, or you arecoming to study a Pre-Sessional English orFoundation course which will lead on toanother Brunel University degree programme,it is highly recommended that you enter theUK under the Tier 4 - General studentimmigration route.

If you are unsure whether you need a newstudent visa, please visit our immigrationwebsite:www.brunel.ac.uk/international/current-students/immigration

Applying for a Student Visa

When should I apply for a student visa?As soon as possible (but not more than 3months before your course starts).

In order to apply for a Tier 4 General StudentVisa, you will need a Confirmation ofAcceptance to Study (CAS) number. This isa unique number that we can only send toyou after your offer has been madeunconditional. We will send you your CASstatement by email only - you do not have torequest it separately. The first CAS we issueyou with is free, however if you need adifferent CAS number issued (if for exampleyou change your course after being made anunconditional offer) then a £10administration fee is charged. A CAS is onlyvalid for six months, so we will not issue oneuntil six months before your course starts.

Further information on how to apply can befound atwww.brunel.ac.uk/international/current-students/immigration

You can learn more about the Points BasedSystem by visiting this websitewww.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk

8

Finance and Banking

How To Make Payments To Brunel

Credit/debit card, cheque, direct bank transferor banker’s draft can be used to make advancepayments to Brunel. Where possible pay bycredit/debit card, as the charges areconsiderably lower. Please do not send cashthrough the mail under any circumstances.Quote your Brunel student number as referencein all correspondence and transactions.

1. If you wish to pay by credit/debit card pleasering +44 1895 265519 between 10am and4pm UK time or visit the Brunel Internationalwebsite. You will need to quote your studentnumber and card details.

2.All students who wish to pay by direct banktransfers are advised to complete theprocess by Monday 12th September 2011;a delay could result in late registration foryour course. It takes about one week forinternational transfers to be concluded.

3.Cheques and banker’s drafts drawn on a UKbank account (sterling) can be sent to:

Finance OfficeBrunel InternationalBrunel UniversityUxbridgeMiddlesex UB8 3PH

4.Payments may be made electronically bycredit/debit card through the Brunelwebsite: www.brunel.ac.uk/about/payFrom the main website go to ‘Internationalstudents’ then follow the instructions.

5. If you have any queries about payment,please contact the Finance team:

international-finance@brunel.ac.uk

Telephone number: +44 (0) 1895 265519

Fax number: +44 (0) 1895 269700

Hello my name isMuhammad HibatullahRomli from Malaysiaand I am studying MScOccupational Therapy.Brunel has a strongcharismatic and uniquenessof its own and has astudent-centred approach where studentpriority is most important. Life on campus isnever boring. The nice and kind internationalenvironment makes you feel at home. Thefacilities available to students are easy toreach whether on campus or off campus. Livingand studying at Brunel does not mean youhave a high cost of living. Being a Muslim orany faith is not a problem because Brunel hastaken precise measure in its account to help onyour matters. Not to mention the great coffeeyou can get from Rococo’s the campus cafébefore your lectures in the morning.

Inte

rnati

onal

Sch

ola

r

9

Information For Sponsored StudentsThe University understands a sponsor to be acompany, organisation or charitable trust(including Brunel University Bursaries/Scholarships) who will meet either the full orpartial cost of your course fees. Please ensureyou review the section entitled SponsoredStudents under the Brunel International FinancePolicy. For further information please see:www.brunel.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding. Parents, guardians, family membersor friends are not acceptable as sponsors. Youshould check the terms of your sponsorshipcarefully: it may be necessary for you to payaccommodation and other deposits should yoursponsorship arrangements not cover these.

Brunel University Bank Details

Bank name: HSBCBank address: PO Box 41, High Street,

Uxbridge, Middlesex,UK, UB8 1BY

Sort code: 4Ø-45-Ø8Account number: Ø147823Ø

Swift code: MIDLGB21Ø9LIban number: GB16MIDL4Ø45Ø8Ø147823Ø

Cheques should be made payable to “BrunelUniversity”. The student number should bewritten on the back of the cheque.

Preparing Funds For Your ArrivalWhen transferring funds to Brunel University,do not include your personal living expenses.Separate arrangements should be made totransfer your personal expenses.

Financial Aid Information for US Students

Applicants from the USA can access a rangeof federal loans from the US Department of

Education to study at Brunel. Detailed and up-to-date information can be found on ourwebsite. If you should have any questions,please feel free to contact our Finance Office:international-finance@brunel.ac.uk

Payment Information for PhD students

Students following a PhD programme can starton the first day of any month. As the academicyear for PhD students at Brunel University runsfrom October to September, the paymentschedule varies according to the start date ofeach student. For further information please goto: www.brunel.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding

Accommodation - Halls of ResidenceOnce you have a conditional offer for a coursecommencing in September you will receive anemail from the Accommodation Office withdetails on how to apply for accommodationon campus. If your course commences at anyother time, please contact theAccommodation Office directly. For furtherinformation on accommodation please visitwww.brunel.ac.uk/life/accommodation

Alternative Accommodation

There is plenty of private rentedaccommodation available close to theUniversity, including individual rooms, houses,flats and flat shares. If you would like furtherinformation about off-campusaccommodation please contact our UniversityHousing Office, who will be able to assist youin securing local off-campus accommodation.www.brunel.ac.uk/life/accommodation/offcampus

10

Before you travel...

Academic Year 2011/2012International Student Orientation Programme: 15-17th September 2011

Induction week, also known asFreshers’ week starts on Sunday 18th September 2011

Autumn Term26th September 2011 to 16th December 2011

Spring Term9th January 2012 to 30th March 2012

Summer Term23rd April 2012 to 31st August 2012

Pre-Registration

Before you arrive, make sure you areprovisionally registered with us.

Once you have met all your conditions Brunelwill send you details on how to register online.

You need to complete the first stage online(this will give you ‘provisionally registered’status). It is important that this is completedbefore you arrive as this will speed and ensurea smoother process of the second part ofregistration when you arrive. To provisionallyregister, just log into the University studentportal at: https://evision.brunel.ac.uk/

Enter your username and login details (whichwill be included in the letter) and fill in theonline form. Once you complete this pleaseprint the Provisional Registration Documentand bring this with you to registration.

If you need help completing the task you can contact our Student Centre on+44 (0) 1895 268268.

11

Open a UK bank account

Check with your bank at home. It may havean arrangement with a UK bank, so you canopen an account before you leave. If not, wecan advise you on how to open an accountwhen you arrive.

Cash / travellers’ cheques

If you are planning to open a bank accountin the UK, it can take up to 10 working days,and even bank drafts will take up to twoweeks to clear. Therefore, we recommendyou bring some cash for the first few weeks.We suggest you bring £150 in cash to coveryour first few days (bus fares, refreshments,etc) and a further £500 in travellers’ cheques(or a widely accepted credit card) to coverthe first four weeks. For further informationon bank accounts have a look at the websiteof the British Banker’s Association:www.bba.org.uk

Travel and health insurance

It is a good idea to take out travel insurancefor your journey to Brunel in case your flightis cancelled or your luggage is lost. Werecommend that you also buy healthinsurance before you leave if your course isfor less than six months to cover healthcare(you will receive NHS healthcare if yourcourse lasts more than 6 months).

Other insurance

You may want to insure any valuables, suchas cameras, luggage or MP3 players, beforeyou travel. Alternatively, you can arrangecover cheaply in the UK.

Hello my name is Ngo Thuy Anh Tuyetfrom Vietnam and I amstudying the MA in Children,Youth & InternationalDevelopment. One of thewonderful things aboutBrunel University for me isthe Art Centre where I had the opportunity torelax and develop my hobbies in pottery,drawing & music. All the classes are either freeor with very little fee for Brunel students.I attended the music theory class and had apractice pass card to use the pianos anytime I want. It is not only about studying and stayingup late for essays in Brunel, but also enjoying &discovering your own abilities.In

tern

ati

onal

Sch

ola

r

12

Before you leave:

Book your flights

Notify Airport Welcome Scheme of flight details

Check your accommodation arrangements and

arrival address

Decide method of payment for tuition fees and

accommodation

Leave photocopies of important documents (e.g.

exam certificates, travellers cheques, insurance

policy, passport) details/copies with family/friends

Take in your hand luggage:

Valid passport with visa/UK entry

Official CAS Letter from the University

Original documents to prove financial support for

tuition fees and maintenance

Recent bank statements, proof of scholarship,

sponsor’s letter

Proof of home address/bank statements (for

opening bank account in UK)

Original offer letter from University stating home

address (for opening bank account in UK)

Originals of important documents

(e.g. exam certificates/transcripts, travellers’

cheques, insurance policy, passport)

Travel insurance and other insurance documents

List of contents of luggage

(in case of insurance claim)

Health certificate/check-up

X-ray report (optional but recommended)

Vaccination certificates (e.g. Rubella, Meningitis)

Any prescribed drugs/medicine, plus doctor’s letter

Contact lenses/glasses prescription

Details of your destination -

address and telephone number

Proof of purchase for IT equipment

(for UK customs)

British Currency and Travellers Cheques

Spare passport-size photographs – usually cheaper

in your home country

Pack in your suitcase

Photocopies of important documents (e.g. exam

certificates, travellers cheques, insurance policy,

passport, bank statements, sponsorship letters)

separate from the originals

Some warm clothing and comfortable shoes to

walk in

National/traditional dress for social events Photos,

posters, pictures of family and home

Small gifts/souvenirs, as a thank-you, if you visit

someone’s home

Sharp objects (e.g. scissors, razorblades) in suitcase,

not hand luggage

Do not bring

Very valuable items, e.g. jewellery

Meat/meat products

Remember the Luggage Allowance!!

My checklist

Photographs of family and friends

Umbrella

� Checklist

13

When you arrive...

Arriving by air

You will need to clear immigration before youreclaim your luggage, so pack your passport,visa, money and University documents in yourhand luggage and keep this safe at all times.

Our Airport Welcome Scheme

On Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14thSeptember, we will be running a free airportwelcome service at Heathrow for first yearinternational students who are attending ourInternational Student Orientation Programme.We will then be running an additional serviceon the 18th September, for new internationalstudents who are not attending theInternational Student Orientation Programme.

Arriving at Heathrow

Just look out for the people in red T-shirts.They will help you with your bags and showyou to our free shuttle bus, which will run

from 7am to 7pm on each of the designateddays. To book this service, please go to:www.brunel.ac.uk/international/applying-to-brunel/pre-arrival-guide/your-first-few-days

Students arriving for summer English coursescan also book a meet and greet service,available prior to each Wednesday start. Tobook this service, please go to:www.brunel.ac.uk/international/iplc/before-you-arrive

Getting to the University on your own

If you are arriving outside of the hours of ourairport welcome service, you will need tomake your own way to the campus. Werecommend you use buses where possible, astaxis can be expensive (approximately £35from Heathrow to campus and much morefrom other airports).

From Heathrow Airport

Go to Heathrow Central Bus Station and takethe U3 bus directly to the campus. The bus

14

station is clearly signposted and is withinwalking distance of Terminals 1, 2 and 3.

If you arrive at Terminals 4 or 5 look for thesigns to the transit area or ask at theinformation desk.

From Stansted Airport

We recommend you take the Jetlink 737 coachto Heathrow Airport’s Central Bus Station andthen follow the instructions above.

From Gatwick Airport

Take the Jetlink 797 coach from Gatwick SouthTerminal to Heathrow Airport’s Central BusStation and then follow the instructions above.

Going through Immigration Customs

During your flight to the UK the flight crewwill hand out Landing Cards. The informationyou need for this card is:• Personal details such as name and date

of birth• Your address in the UK• Occupation. In your case this would

be student• Arrival flight details, you can find this on

your ticket

Once you arrive in the UK you will need to gothrough Immigration Control. Please makesure you have the following documents readyfor the immigration officer:� Completed Landing Card (if you forgot to

do this on the plane you can fill it in whileyou queue)

� Admissions/Offer Letter� Pre-Departure Clearance Certificate

Or

� Chinese Certificate of Health booklet� Bank Statements/Evidence of funds

The Immigration Officers may ask you a fewquestions. Remember, they are only doingtheir job and are in general very friendly andhelpful. For further information on arrivalplease have a look at the Home Officewebsite: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/travellingtotheuk/Enteringtheuk/arrivingatukborder/

Safety in the Airport

After a long journey you may be tired. The UKis generally a friendly place but if you have justarrived it is a good idea to take some extracare, especially around the airports.

• Keep a close eye on your bags and makesure you have them with you at all times

• Keep valuables such as wallets and phonesout of sight

• Use only public transport, black cabs or ourfree airport welcome service

For more information on personal safety forinternational students go towww.britishcouncil.org/new/

15

Accommodation – getting your keys

If you have a room on campus, please emailour accommodation team and tell them theday, date and time you will be arriving oncampus. Remember, it will probably take youtwo hours to clear customs and make yourway to campus after you have landed atHeathrow. Allow an extra hour and a halffrom Gatwick or Stansted airports.

From 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, you canget your keys from the appropriate ResidenceOffice. At any other time, we will leave yourkeys in our Security Office on the campus.

Your accommodation

If you are using our free airport welcome servicewe will take you to the Brunel campus, wherestudent helpers will welcome you. They will beable to direct you to your accommodation andare happy to help you if you have furtherquestions. Our accommodation staff andinternational team will be around to help ifyou have any questions. Otherwise just relax.You have arrived!

Registering with the Overseas VisitorsRegistration Office (OVRO) in London

Some nationalities will have to register with thepolice within 7 days of arrival. Check your visa, ifyou are unsure just come to Brunel International,we can help you and give you the informationyou need with the directions to OVRO and amap. Please note that if you are required toregister with the police it is very importantthat you do so within 7 days of your arrival.

CompletingRegistrationOnce your offer has been made unconditional,you will receive a letter a month prior to thestart of the course advising you on how toregister with Brunel.

The registration is completed in two stages.

Stage 1

You can start Stage 1 of the registrationprocess prior to coming to the University byusing Brunel’s online student portal througheVision (https://evision.brunel.ac.uk). You will need to check that the personaldetails we already hold about you are correctand provide information about how youintend to pay your fees. You will also be giventhe opportunity to upload or post a passport-sized photograph of yourself for your studentID card and your student visa. Once you havecompleted the task, you will be asked to printa Provisional Registration Document. Youshould bring this to the second part ofRegistration, which takes place on campus.

Don’t panic if you don’t have Internet accessat home – there will be provision to completethe task when you arrive, but it will make parttwo of Registration much quicker if you cancomplete it before arriving at Brunel.

Hello my name isFarahiyah WanYunus fromMalaysia and I amstudying MScOccupational Therapy.Brunel University hasall you need on onecampus, which makesstudying much easier.The library even opens late at night which isamazing. Living and studying at Brunel isalways fun and enjoyable.

Inte

rnati

onal

Sch

ola

r

16

Stage 2 – Registration on campus

This is the last hurdle for you before you are afully registered student. You can join theInternational Student Orientation Programmewhere you will be able to register on Friday16th September as part of the programme. Allother students can register from Sunday 18thSeptember until Wednesday 21st Septemberin the Sports Hall. After this date you can goto the Student Centre in the BannermanCentre to complete your registration. Here aresome of the things you MUST bring to registersuccessfully - we cannot register youotherwise.

• Passport

• Visa: You should make sure that you applyfor a visa that covers the full length of yourcourse.

• Your Brunel offer letter or anotherdocument containing your seven-digitStudent Number (usually starting 11)

• Your Provisional Registration Document(you can print this once you have completedthe online registration task).

• Original academic certificates (unless wehave already seen them). If in doubt, bringthem along

• Original English language certificates(unless we have already seen them). If indoubt, bring them along

• Sponsorship letters (applicable only tostudents receiving external sponsorship)

• Documents to complete CriminalRecords Bureau (CRB) check(Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy andSocial Work students only - you will havebeen sent details of what to bring if thecheck is not yet complete)

• Receipts of any payments made

If you are joining a Professional Course youmust also bring

• ID documents to complete a CRB check

• Your Criminal Conviction Disclaimer

• Your Medical Questionnaire

• Your Immunisation Card (for physiotherapyand occupational therapy students)

• Your GTC Suitability Questionnaire (forPGCert or teacher training courses)

Information about your enrolment will besent to you separately.

Hello, my name is Andi Minnarto fromIndonesia.I’m studying MSc BusinessSystems Integration (withSAP technology) course.Brunel University has avibrant and dynamicatmosphere with its diverse students. Livingon campus gives me an extra advantage,because all facilities are available on campus,including bank, sports centre, medical centre,arts centre, and various food outlets. My toptip for you is: Keep the balance betweenstudying and enjoying your time – prepareyourself to enjoy one of the most memorablejourneys in your life in Brunel University.In

tern

ati

onal

Sch

ola

r

17

More details about the facilities and pictures of all the halls can be found here:

www.brunel.ac.uk/0/Corporate%20Documents/135587LivingatBrunel20116.pdf

What will I find in my room?

Bed

Pillow and Cover

Duvet and Cover

Bedside table

Wardrobe

Desk and chair

Shelves

Notice board

Mirror

What will I find in the communal kitchen?

Cooker

Fridge

Freezer

Sink

Kettle

Iron and ironing board

Kitchen table and seating

Food storage space

You will need to bring your own crockery andcooking utensils. You can buy them cheaplyin the Uxbridge town centre.

Living on campus

With more than 4500 rooms on campus youwill be joining a vibrant campus community.The facilities are very similar across all ourhalls, and you can indicate in your applicationfor an on-campus room if you prefer astandard or en-suite. All rooms have a freeinternet connection and a communal kitchen.

18

Freshers’ week

Freshers’ week starts on Sunday 18thSeptember 2011. This is an induction for allfirst year students and is designed to helpeverybody find their way around and getstarted. You should certainly plan to attendyour School’s induction events, as a lot ofthese will be about your timetable, studyfacilities, meeting your lecturers and gettingthe right study materials.

There is also a first year students’ fayre, calledFresher’s Fayre, organised by the Union ofBrunel Students’ (UBS). Here you can meetpeople with similar interests, make newfriends, and join a sports team, a social club oran international students’ group. Throughoutthe week, in the evenings, the Students’Union organises parties, gigs and other events– and there is a special meeting point forinternational students within the Unionbuilding. By the end of the week, you willknow a lot more about the University campusand will have met a lot of new people!

Hello, I’m Olga Shubina.I’m from Russia and studying MScPackaging TechnologyManagement.During the academic year,Brunel Internationalorganised trips to the mostinteresting cities andsightseeing around the UK that I liked a lotbecause it was nice opportunity to see thecountry and take a break from studyingduring weekends.I can definitely say that I don’t regret mychoice and I had a fantastic year at Brunel.During this year, I tried to participate indifferent workshops and English Courses thatthe University specially provided forInternational and EU students as well as OneWorld Week and different social events, whichwas very helpful as in professionaldevelopment so as in student socialinteraction.

Inte

rnati

onal

Sch

ola

r

19

Your Students’ Union

The Students’ Union exists to represent theinterests of every Brunel University student. It has its own building on campus and thisprovides shops, bars, cafeterias and spaces forparties or performances. In addition the Unionprovides student welfare services and advice oneverything from finance to visa questions. Plusit represents student interests to the University’spolicy makers and managers. The Union is runby a President and management team. Thesepeople are elected by the University’s studentsand are mostly students themselves, althoughthere is a small team of permanent staff. Youcan get involved by either becoming a SchoolRep, join the Brunel Media team as a Radio DJ,write for the students newspaper Le Nurb(Brunel spelt backwards) or join many of theactivities throughout the academic year. Unionmembership is free and you will be auto-matically enrolled unless you state otherwise.For more information have a look at the UBSwebsite: www.brunelstudents.com/

In-sessional English Courses

Once you have started your degreeprogramme, to help you improve youracademic English as you study at Brunel, weprovide free in-sessional English support. Youhave the opportunity to attend a variety ofclasses in presentation skills, writing, readingand listening, and English pronunciation andgrammar, all of which should help make youstudies at Brunel even more successful. Youcan also book one-to-one academicconsultations with a tutor to discuss yourwriting and to give you support when tryingto structure your academic work. For furtherinformation on in-sessional English support,please go to:www.brunel.ac.uk/international/current-students/insessional-english

Modern Foreign Languages

Brunel International Pathways and LanguageCentre (IPLC) offers a range of free ModernForeign Language courses at a variety oflevels. The classes develop key linguistic skillsand are all taught by qualified, native speakerswho promote a fun and stimulating learningenvironment. Foreign language skills enhancework, study and travel experiences, improvecareer prospects and develop culturalawareness. You will make new friends as youmeet students from different countries withdifferent native languages. We currently havecourses in Arabic, French, German, Italian,Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian andSpanish. For further information on IPLClanguage courses, please go towww.brunel.ac.uk/international/current-students/foreign-languages

20

Uxbridge, Londonand the UK – A short guide toliving in the UK

British people and customs

Here are a few things to bear in mind:-

British people are generally quite reserved, butthis does not mean they are unfriendly. Youmust wait in line when there is a queue.British people will get quite upset if you pushto the front.

Police officers in Britain are generally friendlyand helpful, so do not be afraid to approachthem if, for example, you are lost! Have a lookon facebook and find our very own BrunelBobby who works on campus.

You do not have to drink alcohol if you visit aBritish pub. Many people do not. Smoking isforbidden in public places, including bars,shops and railway stations.

British people really do talk about the weatherquite a lot!

The weather

It can rain at any time of year in the UK and itgenerally does! However, spring and summercan also be warm and sunny, whilst the winter

can see some very cold temperatures. Beingan island climate, the weather can changequickly in the course of a day.

British food

Fish and chips, roast dinners, ploughman’slunches, great British breakfasts! These aresome of the delicacies waiting for you, but donot worry: there is plenty more on the menu.

Most restaurants for example will havevegetarian dishes on the menu and it is nottoo hard to find Halal or Kosher food in theLondon and Uxbridge areas.

And wherever you are from, the chances arethere will be a restaurant from home!

21

The Uxbridge town centre is a short walk fromcampus and has everything you need, frombanks to mobile phone shops, from halalsupermarkets to departments stores. With twoshopping centres, and it’s very own cinema,lots of pubs and restaurants, Uxbridge is acharming place where you can go to relax,shop and socialise with friends.

The London city centre is about 40 minutesaway. It is an amazing place full of history,culture and something new to discover everyweek. Virtually every nation, culture andcuisine is represented in London, so you alwaysget a taste of home. Of course, London hasexcellent transport links, so exploring the restof the UK or mainland Europe is easy.

Getting around

Travelling by train or coach is good value formoney if you buy a student travel card. Thisgives you generous discounts and is especiallycheap if you travel outside peak times.

You can pick up coaches to many destinationsfrom Victoria Coach Station in London ormore locally here in Uxbridge. For trains todifferent regions of the UK, it is best to travelin to London. As in many cities, there aredifferent rail terminals serving different partsof the country. Check before you travel to seewhich terminal you need by going towww.tfl.gov.uk

If you wish to travel a greater distance, say toEurope or Scotland, there are some excellentdeals to be had from airlines, such as Ryanairand Easyjet. Check their websites for details.

UK Health services

If you are here on a student visa for more thansix months you will qualify for healthcare fromthe UK’s National Health Service. Seewww.nhs.uk/pages/homepage.aspx

You will need to register with a doctor (a“General Practitioner”) to access the NHS’sservices. If you are living on campus, you canregister at the Brunel Medical centre:www.brunel.ac.uk/life/health/medical-centre

To find a doctor close by if you are living offcampus, go towww.nhs.uk/Pages/homepage.aspxor speak to the international team.Important: If you are on a course for lessthan six months, you should arrange healthinsurance in your own country before you travel.

22

Making the most ofyour stay

During your time at Brunel we will try to keepin touch with you to make sure that you enjoyyour studies and your time here. There will beplenty of opportunities for you to be part ofthe Brunel University community and for youto contribute.

Be part of a community

As an international student you are a memberof our new international student society ‘SixDegrees’. You will get the chance to apply fora voluntary post in the Six Degrees committeeand automatically will be involved in shapingsocial events for the academic year. We have afantastic social programme lined up for you inFresher’s week, including trips into centralLondon and a chance to try some traditionalBritish food (which is lovely, we promise) tostart. You can find Six Degrees on facebookand find out what they have been doing so far:www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Six-Degrees/174307735927993

International newsletterStudent life can be busy. To make sure youdon’t miss out Brunel International will sendyou a regular newsletter with updates andnewsflashes on life on campus, events inLondon, great opportunities for students andexplain the weird and wonderful traditions ofBritish culture such as Pancake Day and how tomake the perfect Yorkshire Pudding, and bythe way this is not a sweet dessert.

FacebookBefore you arrive at Brunel you cancheck out our facebook page to findout what’s going on at Brunel andwhat current students have to say:www.facebook.com/home.php#!/brunelinternational

Anything else?If you should have any further questions orwould like to find out more about your arrivalin the UK and your life at Brunel University,please do not hesitate to contact us oninternational.helpdesk@brunel.ac.uk

We are looking forward to meeting youin September.

The Brunel International Team

PIEL

DH

EATH

ROA

D

Hei

nzW

Hal

sbur

y

Ham

ilton

Cent

re

Bann

erm

anCe

ntre

John

Cran

k

Brag

g

Mic

hael

Ster

ling

Wilf

red

Brow

n

Zone

AZo

neB

Zone

C

Zone

D

Lect

ure

Cent

re

Zone

G

Brun

elSc

ienc

ePa

rk

Ellio

tt

Jaqu

es

Gar

dine

r

Russ

ell

NO

RTH

LO

OP

ROA

D

SOU

TH L

OO

P RO

AD

Tow

erA

Tow

erB

Tow

erC

Tow

erD

How

ell

Ant

onin

A

rtau

dJo

seph

Low

e

Chad

wic

kG

aske

llM

arie

Jaho

da

St Jo

hns

Mar

ySe

acol

e

Spor

tsCe

ntre

Zone

E

Zone

F

Pavi

lion

Spor

tsPa

rk

TOPP

ING

LA

NE

WES

T SP

UR

RD

ISAMBARD CL

Brun

el U

nive

rsity

Pr

ess

Cash

Poi

nts

River Pinn

Arts

Cen

tre

Acco

m

ce

Med

ical

Ce

ntre

Mee

ting

Hou

se

Lanc

aste

r C

onf

Sui

te

Coun

selli

ng

Indoor Athletics Centre

Cont

rol

Barr

ier

Cont

rol B

arrie

r

STAT

ION

RO

AD

KINGSTON LANE

KINGSTON LANE

KINGSTON LANE

CLEVELAND ROADCLEVELAND ROAD

COWLEY ROAD

COWLEY ROAD

Conf

eren

ce O

e

Pond

Cont

rol

Barr

ier

Cont

rol

Barr

ier

The

Qua

d

Post

Bo

x

A

1

23

4

13

14

15 16 17

18 5

6

7

8 9 10

1211

1212

B

CD

E

FG

HI

J

K

LM

N

OP

Q

? U3

U5

222

U1,

U4,

U7

U1,

U4,

U7

U1,

U4,

U7

Uxb

ridg

e 1

mile

222

U5

Rese

rved

Visi

tor

Pay

&D

ispl

ay

Pay

&D

ispl

ay

Rese

rved

Visi

tor

Rese

rved

Visi

tor

Rese

rved

Visi

tor

?A

10, U

1, U

4, U

7

Rese

rved

Visi

tor

Rese

rved

Visi

tor

Entr

ance

Main

Reception

and

Secu

rity

1211

08 1

3323

8

Isam

bard

Com

plex

A.

Nor

thB.

Mea

dow

C.M

icha

el B

evis

D.

Conc

ours

eE.

Step

hen

Brag

gF.

Wes

tG

.M

auric

e Ko

gan

H.

Dav

id N

eave

I.Ce

ntra

lJ.

East

K.Ru

nnym

ede

L.G

eorg

e Sh

ipp

M.

Trev

or S

late

rN

.Sh

ored

itch

O.

Syd

Urr

yP.

Sout

hQ

.Br

ian

Win

stan

ley

Zon

e E

Zon

e A

Zon

e F

1Is

amba

rd

Com

plex

A –

Q

2G

albr

aith

Hal

l3

Flem

ing

Hal

l4

Mill

Hal

l

Lanc

aste

r Com

plex

13Bo

roug

h Ro

ad

Hal

l14

Mar

ia G

rey

Hal

l15

Lanc

aste

r Hal

l16

Sout

hwar

k H

all

17St

ockw

ell

5Sa

ltas

h H

all

6Ch

epst

ow H

all

7Cl

ifto

n H

all

Bish

op C

ompl

ex8

Bish

op H

all

9Ki

lmor

ey H

all

10La

cy H

all

11St

Mar

gare

ts

Hal

l

12Fa

rada

y Co

mpl

ex

Lanc

aste

r Com

plex

18G

ordo

n H

all

Zone

ACh

adw

ick

Gas

kell

Hea

lth E

cono

mic

s Re

sear

ch G

roup

Scho

ol o

f Art

s (t

augh

t pr

ogra

mm

es)

Mar

ie Ja

hoda

Brun

el L

aw S

choo

lSc

hool

of S

ocia

l Sci

ence

s (U

G, P

G a

nd re

sear

ch

Mee

ting

Hou

se

Zone

BA

rts

Cent

reBr

agg

Expe

rimen

tal

Tech

niqu

es C

entr

eBr

unel

Uni

vers

ity

Pres

s

Hal

sbur

yG

radu

ate

Scho

olIn

stitu

te fo

r the

En

viro

nmen

tSc

hool

of S

port

and

Ed

ucat

ion

Wol

fson

Cen

tre

Bios

cien

ces

(enq

uirie

s)Br

unel

Inst

itute

for

Bioe

ngin

eerin

g Re

sear

ch S

ervi

ces

and

Dev

elop

men

t Sc

hool

of S

port

and

Ed

ucat

ion

John

Cra

nkCo

mpu

ter C

entr

eM

athe

mat

ical

Sci

ence

s (e

nqui

ries)

Zone

CBa

nner

man

Cen

tre

Ass

istiv

e Te

chno

logy

Ce

ntre

Dis

abili

ty a

nd D

ysle

xia

Serv

ice

Job

Shop

Libr

ary

Plac

emen

t and

Car

eers

Stud

ent C

entr

eW

est L

ondo

n A

sses

smen

t Cen

tre

Ham

ilton

Cen

tre

Brun

el H

ospi

talit

yCa

mpu

s Sh

ops

Stud

ents

’ Uni

onLe

ctur

e Ce

ntre

Med

ia S

ervi

ces

Reci

tal (

Robe

rts)

Roo

mLT

DU

Mic

hael

Ste

rlin

gBr

unel

Bus

ines

s Sc

hool

(t

augh

t pro

gram

mes

)Sc

hool

of E

ngin

eerin

g an

d D

esig

n (P

G

taug

ht a

nd re

sear

ch

prog

ram

mes

)W

ilfre

d Br

own

Alu

mni

Be

ldam

Gal

lery

Esta

tes

(Ope

ratio

ns a

nd

Reso

urce

s)Fi

nanc

eM

arke

ting

Regi

stry

/Adm

issi

ons

Secu

rity

Zone

DA

nton

in A

rtau

dH

owel

lH

owel

l The

atre

(H

owel

l Cen

tre)

Jose

ph L

owe

Dis

trib

utio

n Ce

ntre

Mai

nten

ance

Med

ical

Cen

tre

Tow

er A

Brun

el C

entr

e fo

r Adv

ance

d

Tech

nolo

gyD

esig

n Ex

hibi

tion

Cent

reSc

hool

of E

ngin

eerin

g an

d D

esig

n (U

G ta

ught

pr

ogra

mm

es)

Tow

er B

BITL

abTo

wer

C a

nd D

Zone

EM

ary

Seac

ole

Hea

lth a

nd S

ocia

l Car

e (e

nqui

ries)

St Jo

hns

Info

rmat

ion

Syst

ems

and

Com

putin

g (e

nqui

ries)

Indo

or A

thle

tics

Cen

tre

Lanc

aste

r Con

fere

nce

Suit

eSp

orts

Cen

tre

Zone

GBr

unel

Sci

ence

Par

kEl

liott

Jaqu

esBr

unel

Bus

ines

s Sc

hool

(t

augh

t pro

gram

mes

)G

ardi

ner

CLEA

PSS

Russ

ell

Brun

el In

tern

atio

nal

(incl

udin

g LI

BT)

Lang

uage

Cen

tre

MBA

Zone

F

Coun

selli

ng S

ervi

ce

Spor

ts P

ark

Ath

letic

s A

rena

Net

ball

Cour

tsSp

orts

Pav

ilion

Synt

hetic

Pitc

hes

Tenn

is C

ourt

s

AC

CO

MM

OD

ATIO

N

Entr

ance

Plea

se d

o no

t use

UB8

3PH

in a

ny s

atna

v de

vice

s as

thes

e se

rvic

e pr

ovid

ers

have

not

ye

t adj

uste

d th

eir d

irect

ions

to th

e ne

w

vehi

cula

r ent

ranc

e in

Kin

gsto

n La

ne.

Campus Map

23

www.brunel.ac.uk/international

Brunel International

Russell Building

Kingston Lane, Uxbridge

Middlesex UB8 3PH

Phone:- +44 (0) 1895 265519

Fax:- +44 (0) 1895 269700

Email:- international.helpdesk@brunel.ac.uk